This position helps supervise and facilitate the numerous groups that our Youth Program offers to our service users and their children! Ranging from movement group to arts and crafts to a group just for tiny tots, with offerings changing and expanding in response to need, having an extra set of eyes and hands for each group ensures that children who have been exposed to Intimate Partner Violence continue to have access to these spaces as they navigate a time of deep and often traumatic transition in their lives.
Responsibilities:
- Work with the Youth Program staff to set up for and co-facilitate children’s playgroups at the shelter.
- Interact kindly, compassionately, and professionally with children of various ages from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Maintain service user confidentiality and abide by Vermont mandated reporter requirements.
Training Requirements:
- Complete our 20-hour Community Advocate Training to obtain VT Victim and Crisis Worker Privilege. This is provided through us, free of charge for volunteers!
- Complete 3-hour Mandated Reporter Training. If you have documentation that you are already a mandated reporter in the state of Vermont, you do not need to go through the training again!
- Shadow at least one group with the Youth Program to get familiar with our residents, their children, and Youth Program protocols. More shadow shifts may be required for those with no or minimal experience working with children.
Time Commitment:
- Multiple groups are held each week, Monday-Friday.
- We ask that you commit to helping with at least one group a month.
- We also welcome your own thought, creativity, and innovation-if you have an interest, skill, or expertise that would lend itself well to a new group, our Youth Program can work with you to start a new group and add to our current offerings!
- Most groups are held between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, with the exceptions being groups that are held in the evening time to accommodate school and work schedules. These groups may involve dinner and are held less frequently. Most groups are held after school and the kids get off their buses by 3:40 pm. On days off from school, groups may change to accommodate those hours.
